Ephesus and Pergamon Tour

After breakfast, departure from the hotel to Ephesus. During your journey, your local tour guide will inform you about Ephesus, The House of the Virgin Mary, and The Temple of Artemis. Also, about Turkey, such as climate, different regions in Turkey that hold the most beautiful historical places, and all while standing in front of the Turkey Map as they will then pinpoint these certain places for you, to make it easier to follow the tour guides Turkey Map. Still, your local tour guide will also hand you your Ephesus Map, Pamukkale Map, Hierapolis Map, and Turkey Map.

The House of Virgin Mary

We will pass through the verdant and picturesque countryside before arriving at our first stop, The House of the Virgin Mary. In accordance with the Predominant Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the resurrection of Christ and lived out her final resting years here. This is based mainly on the traditional belief that John came to Ephesus and the biblical statement that Jesus consigned her to John's care (John 19:26-27).

Ephesus Ancient Ruin

After the House of the Virgin Mary, we will visit the Ancient City of Ephesus; The tour here will be a walking tour and will take you to one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the world. Ephesus was once the cultural and economic capital of the Roman empire in Asia Minor; you will be able to see the Fountain of Trajan, the steam baths of Scholastic, the Temple of Hadrian, and of course, remember the awe-inspiring library of Ephesus.

The library is adorned with columns and statues. It also housed the Library of Celsus, the third-largest library in the Roman world. It housed over 12,000 scrolls and manuscripts in niches along the inner wall. When St. Paul visited Ephesus in AD 53, he found a sizable Jewish community there. Menorah graffiti: The carvings on the stairs of the Ephesus Celsus Library are a mystery.

The menorah was used as a Jewish symbol in the 3rd century; So far, three have been found in ancient Ephesus, which had a thriving Jewish community. The Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached, is the largest in antiquity, with a capacity of 24,000 people. You will then return to the bus down the Arcadian Road, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in the parade.

After your 2-hour exploration of Ephesus, we set off for an approximately 1-hour lunch break.

The Temple of Artemis (Diana)

Then we will continue on the tour and head on for our next stop, which is the Temple of Artemis (Diana); this outstanding temple was built in honor of the Greek Goddess of hunting, wild nature, and fertility, deemed as one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple of Artemis used to be the largest marble temple in the ancient Greek world since it was four times as big as the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. Offerings by thousands of pilgrims each year enabled the temple to grow so wealthy that it became the world's first bank. Today, little remains of the magnificent structure. Your guide will describe its importance, wealth, and the tension between the Romans and Christians that settled in the area over the centuries.

After the Ephesus tour, drive to Izmir Airport. Fly back to Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.